Bac Ninh has identified the goal of becoming a centrally governed city before 2030 as a comprehensive process of elevating its development model and improving the quality of life of its people.

Amid the atmosphere of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Hong Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Provincial Party Secretary of Bac Ninh, granted an interview to central and local media agencies on the vision, objectives and major orientations for building Bac Ninh into a fast-growing, sustainable, modern locality with a strong cultural identity, striving to become a centrally governed city before 2030.

Comrade Provincial Party Secretary, the 14th National Congress of the Party has set forth new development orientations for the country in the coming period. Within that overall framework, how does Bac Ninh define its vision for rapid and sustainable development and its goal of becoming a centrally governed city before 2030?

Nguyen Hong Thai: The 14th National Congress of the Party opens a new stage of national development, with higher requirements for growth quality, autonomy and sustainability. Within that overall framework, Bac Ninh clearly identifies the goal of becoming a centrally governed city before 2030 as a comprehensive process of upgrading its development model, governance capacity and the quality of life of its people.

Following the merger, Bac Ninh has entered a new development phase with a broader spatial scope, greater development potential and resources, and higher governance requirements. The province’s consistent vision is to achieve rapid development while ensuring sustainability; to pursue modernization while preserving cultural identity; and to closely link economic growth with social progress, environmental protection and improvements in people’s living standards.

Based on the orientations of the 14th National Congress, the province identifies science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as key driving forces; places people and businesses at the center of development; regards Kinh Bac culture as the spiritual foundation and source of endogenous strength; and considers discipline, order, effectiveness and efficiency of the political system as essential guarantees. This is the pathway for Bac Ninh to advance quickly in terms of growth while remaining solid in its foundations, sustainable over the long term, and sufficiently capable and qualified to become a centrally governed city before 2030.

From Bac Ninh’s development practice in recent years, which growth drivers will continue to be promoted, and which new drivers will play a decisive role in maintaining high growth while shifting more strongly toward depth, quality and sustainability?

Nguyen Hong Thai: From practical experience, Bac Ninh has continued to maintain high and stable growth, remaining among the leading localities nationwide. In 2025, gross regional domestic product (GRDP) at current prices is estimated to exceed VND 522 trillion, up 10.27 percent, placing the province among those achieving double-digit growth. The economic structure has shifted in a positive direction, with industry continuing to serve as the primary growth engine. Total import-export turnover reached USD 182 billion, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the national total, making Bac Ninh one of the two largest import-export centers in Vietnam. Foreign direct investment attraction and state budget revenue have remained among the national leaders, affirming the province’s strong investment appeal and providing an important source of development resources.

Alongside economic growth, Bac Ninh’s socio-economic development has become increasingly comprehensive and balanced. Trade and services have expanded dynamically in parallel with urbanization and the expansion of economic space. Transport, urban and digital infrastructure have continued to receive synchronized investment, opening up new development potential. Agriculture has shifted toward an ecological, high-tech and multi-value orientation. Culture, education, healthcare and social security have received comprehensive attention, while people’s material and spiritual lives have steadily improved, creating a solid social foundation for sustainable development.

However, to achieve rapid and sustainable development in the coming period, the province recognizes the need to create new, decisive growth drivers. The focus is on a strong shift from growth based on scale to growth driven by quality, efficiency and depth:

(1) Promptly reviewing, adjusting and issuing the provincial master plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050; and formulating the Bac Ninh urban master plan to 2050, with a vision to 2075, ensuring consistency with regional and national planning to create new development space and potential.

(2) Concentrating on economic restructuring toward high-tech industries, green industries, supporting industries and the digital economy; forming a modern industrial ecosystem closely linked with innovation and deeper participation in global value chains.

(3) Continuing to invest in infrastructure and urban development in a synchronized, modern and multi-dimensional manner, with a focus on implementing and completing major inter-regional, inter-provincial and international connectivity projects, including Gia Binh International Airport; road connections to Hanoi; Ring Roads 4 and 5; the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway; and corridors such as Hanoi - Lang Son - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh - Mong Cai. At the same time, large industrial parks, urban areas, logistics centers and a system of modern ICD ports will be developed in a synchronized manner.

(4) Identifying private-sector development, enhancement of domestic enterprise capacity, increased localization rates, and stronger linkages between FDI enterprises and domestic firms as an important growth driver.

(5) Accelerating comprehensive digital transformation across government, businesses and society, identified as the “soft infrastructure” of new growth, contributing to higher labor productivity, lower social costs and enhanced competitiveness.

To realize the goal of becoming a centrally governed city, what breakthroughs are needed in mechanisms, policies, planning, infrastructure and development governance? Among these areas, which should be prioritized to create spillover effects for the overall development process?

Nguyen Hong Thai: Bac Ninh has clearly identified three key breakthroughs of decisive significance in achieving the goal of becoming a centrally governed city.

First is a breakthrough in institutions and development governance capacity. The province is focusing on improving mechanisms and policies; promoting decentralization and delegation of authority in tandem with strengthened inspection and supervision; enhancing administrative discipline and order; and building a digital, service-oriented government that takes the satisfaction of citizens and businesses as the primary measure of effectiveness.

Second is a breakthrough in human resources, regarded as the most long-term and sustainable breakthrough. Bac Ninh is committed to building a contingent of officials with sufficient integrity, competence and credibility, who dare to think, dare to act and dare to take responsibility, while also prioritizing training and attraction of high-quality human resources, particularly in high technology, digital transformation, logistics, healthcare, education and modern urban governance.

Third is a breakthrough in synchronized and modern infrastructure. The province prioritizes the development of inter-regional transport connectivity, industrial park infrastructure, urban infrastructure and digital infrastructure, expanding development space and strengthening linkages with Hanoi and other localities in the Capital Region.

Among these areas, Bac Ninh determines that planning and infrastructure must move one step ahead. Planning must be closely aligned with regional and national planning and guided by a long-term vision; infrastructure must create a “runway” for development by reducing logistics costs and improving production and business efficiency. At the same time, institutional quality and disciplined implementation are decisive in transforming planning and infrastructure into real development capacity.

Developing a modern urban area without sacrificing the environment, culture and quality of life is a consistent requirement. How do you assess the role of people and Kinh Bac cultural identity in creating a foundation for sustainable development and long-term competitive advantages for Bac Ninh?

Nguyen Hong Thai: Bac Ninh identifies people as the center, the driving force and the ultimate goal of all development strategies. Economic growth must ultimately serve to improve people’s quality of life, ensure a safe environment, civilized urban spaces, sustainable social security and equitable opportunities for development and happiness for all citizens.

Kinh Bac cultural identity is a core value, serving as both a spiritual foundation and a form of “soft” competitive advantage for Bac Ninh. The province views the preservation and promotion of cultural values not merely as safeguarding heritage, but as a means of generating endogenous resources for development. When culture is integrated with modern thinking, technology and the creative economy, Bac Ninh can further develop cultural tourism, cultural industries, creative services, and high-quality education and training.

At the same time, environmental protection is identified as a mandatory requirement. Bac Ninh strictly manages natural resources and land use; controls pollution in industrial parks, clusters and craft villages; promotes a green and circular economy; and raises environmental standards in investment attraction. Urban development must go hand in hand with preserving cultural identity, protecting the environment and improving quality of life, so that Bac Ninh truly becomes a place worth living in, worth investing in and worth long-term commitment.

From the forum of the 14th National Congress of the Party, what message would you like to convey to the people of the province, the business community and investors regarding Bac Ninh’s determination, actions and aspiration for rapid and sustainable development, worthy of becoming a centrally governed city?

Nguyen Hong Thai: The message Bac Ninh wishes to convey is that development must be rapid yet sustainable; modern yet without losing cultural identity; and that economic growth must be closely linked with improving people’s quality of life. This is not merely a development choice, but a path that Bac Ninh is firmly committed to pursuing in the coming period.

To the people of the province, the core message is that all development orientations and policies are directed toward people, for people and by people. Public consensus, trust and a spirit of shared commitment are the most important foundations for Bac Ninh to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and achieve sustainable development. Urban, industrial and infrastructure development must ultimately serve the goal of improving quality of life, ensuring social security, and maintaining stability and safety for the people.

To the business community and investors, Bac Ninh aspires to remain a reliable destination and a convergence point for cooperation, innovation and long-term development. The province remains steadfast in attracting selective investment, prioritizing high technology, environmental friendliness, efficiency and sustainability, while encouraging stronger linkages, shared responsibility and mutual development between enterprises and the locality, as well as between FDI enterprises and domestic firms.

For the entire political system, the overarching message is responsibility, discipline and action. Every development goal must be translated into concrete actions, tangible outcomes and changes that can be clearly felt in social life. On the foundation of solidarity, innovation and aspiration, Bac Ninh is determined to pursue development based on real capacity, sustainable foundations and broad social consensus, in order to soon become a centrally governed city and make a worthy contribution to the country’s overall development in the new era.